![Ulllted States Patent [19] [11] Patent Number: 6,111,940 Kugell [45] Date of Patent: Aug](http://data.docslib.org/img/32ab482d44762f1b440aa371e870a7ac-1.webp)
US006111940A Ulllted States Patent [19] [11] Patent Number: 6,111,940 Kugell [45] Date of Patent: Aug. 29, 2000
[54] METHOD FOR PROVIDING TELEPHONIC 5,311,574 5/1994 Livanos ...... 379/209 SERVICES 5,333,180 7/1994 Brown et al...... 379/88.06 5,418,844 5/1995 Morrisey et al...... 379/207 [75] Inventor: Stanley Kugell, Chestnut Hill, Mass. 5,740,229 4/1998 Hanson et al...... 379/209 5,943,397 8/1999 Gabin et al...... 379/213 X [73] Assignee: Pilgrim Telephone, Inc., Cambridge, Mass. Primary Examiner—Scott L. Weaver [21] Appl, N()_j 09/189,366 Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Chadbourne & Parke LLP [22] Filed: Nov. 9, 1998 [57] ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl.7 ...... H04M 3/42 A method for providing telephonic Services Comprises pro_ Cl- ...... a toll_free access telephone number and receiving Fleld Of Search ...... Signaling or a call made to the ton_free number a 379/245’ 258’ 265’ 8822’ 8823’ 8824’ customer The calling number of the customer number is 88.25, 88.26, 201, 202, 213, 111, 882114, 88.19,8821 d etermlned. ' and the signaling. . 1sterm1nated. . or the call is. hung ’ up. Thereafter, the customer is called-back and provided [56] References Cited With a dialing prompt Whereby the customer can select a desired service. U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS 4,996,705 2/1991 Entenmann et al...... 379/91 66 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
PROVIDE A TOLL-FREE l ACCESS TELEPHONE NUMBER I I I 200 I I I RECEIVE SIGNALING AT THE TOLL-FREE NUMBER I 201 .14 DETERMINE THE CALLING NUMBER AND ANSWER THE CALL 202
PROVIDE CALL-BACK OPTIONS TO THE CALLER 203 I RECEIVE AN INDICATION OF ONE OR MORE CALL-BACK OPTIONS 204
HANG UP THE TOLL-FREE CALL 205
I CALL BACK IN ACCORDANCE WITH ] SELECTED CALL-BACK OPTIONS ] 206 K I I PROVIDE A DIALING PROMPT ‘ TO THE CALLED-BACK NUMBER 207 U.S. Patent Aug. 29, 2000 Sheet 1 0f 4 6,111,940
SERVICE 2 PROVIDER STATION 30
TELEPHONE ‘ SWITCHING RELAY SWITCHING INSTRUMENT STATION NET STATION 10 20 25 40
TELEPHONE DESTINATION INSTRUMENT if NUMBER 11 50
FIG. 1 U.S. Patent Aug. 29,2000 Sheet 2 of4 6,111,940
PROVIDE A TOLL-FREE ACCESS TELEPHONE NUMBER 100
RECEIVE SIGNALING AT THE TOLL-FREE NUMBER 101
DETERMINE THE CALLING NUMBER WITHOUT ANSWERING THE CALL 102
TERMINATE SIGNALING OF INCOMING CALL WITHOUT ANSWERING 103
CALL BACK THE CALLING NUMBER 104
I I I PROVIDE A DIALING PROMPT TO THE CALLED-BACK NUMBER 105
FIG. 2 U.S. Patent Aug. 29,2000 Sheet 3 of4 6,111,940
PROVIDE A TOLL-FREE ACCESS TELEPHONE NUMBER 200 I RECEIVE SIGNALING AT THE TOLL-FREE NUMBER 201
DETERMINE THE CALLING NUMBER AND ANSWER THE CALL 202 I PROVIDE CALL-BACK OPTIONS TO THE CALLER 203
RECEIVE AN INDICATION OF ONE OR MORE CALL-BACK OPTIONS 204 I I HANG UP THE TOLL-FREE CALL 205
CALL BACK IN ACCORDANCE WITH I SELECTED CALL-BACK OPTIONS 206 I PROVIDE A DIALING PROMPT TO THE CALLED-BACK NUMBER 207 FIG. 3 U.S. Patent Aug. 29,2000 Sheet 4 of4 6,111,940
PROVIDE AN ACCESS TELEPHONE NUMBER 300
I RECEIVE SIGNALING AT THE ACCESS TELEPHONE NUMBER 301 i DETERMINE THE CALLING302 NUMBER :
TERMINATE SIGNALING WITHOUT ANSWERING THE CALL ANSWER THE CALL 307
CALL BACK THE CALLING NUMBER DETERMINE A DESIRED 308
iiiiiiiiiiii U DIALING SEQUENCE TO BE INPUT TERMINATE THE CALL ‘ 304 I 309
CALLINGCALL BACK NUMBER THE I
310 PROMPT AT LEAST ONE 7 BUT NOT ALL OF THE DIGITS 1 OF THE DIALING SEQUENCE 305
I REPEAT PROMPT UNTIL 5 THE DIALING SEQUENCE ‘ IS COMPLETED 306 6,111,940 1 2 METHOD FOR PROVIDING TELEPHONIC to indicate to the customer that there may have been an entry SERVICES error. The method of the present invention is knoWn as “Call-Back Dial-Tone”, and the method of providing BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION prompted dialing is knoWn as “Prompted Dialing”. The present invention relates to a method of providing In accordance With the object of the present invention, the telephonic services, and in particular, to providing access by present invention also includes a method for providing a customer to long-distance carriers and information pro telephonic services Wherein an access telephone number is viders and to prompted dialing services. The term “service provided corresponding to a provider of telephonic services, provider” Will henceforth be used to refer to both long signaling made to the access number by the customer is distance service providers and information providers. 10 received by the provider, a desired dialing sequence to be There presently exist several methods of accessing a inputted by the customer is determined, and a prompt of at long-distance carrier. One method is the pre-subscription least one but feWer than all of the digits of the desired dialing sequence is provided to the customer. Prompting is repeated method. In this method, every telephone line has a pre until the dialing sequence is completed by the customer. The subscribed long-distance carrier. To use the pre-subscribed 15 carrier, the customer dials 1+the area (or service) code plus desired dialing sequence can be a telephone number, a geographic area code telephone number or a service code seven more digits. This is knoWn as “1+” dialing. telephone number, such as a “900” number, or a dialing code Asecond method is the use of a CIC (carrier identi?cation selected from a menu. The prompting can be one Which code) code. In this method, every carrier has a unique 4-digit alloWs a touch-tone input, a dialing input or a verbal input. CIC code. To reach a desired carrier by means of a CIC code, In accordance With a preferred embodiment of the present the customer dials “101” +the CIC code. This enables the invention, the prompted dialing can be used in conjunction customer to use that carrier for a call by dialing 101+CIC With callback, Wherein the customer is called back before the code+1+area code, etc. desired dialing sequence is determined. Alternatively, the Another method of accessing a long-distance carrier is the customer is called back after determining the desired dialing use of a calling card. The customer dials a toll-free number 25 sequence. belonging to the desired carrier and charges a call to a calling In a typical embodiment of the present invention, a person card or a credit card. connects to a telephonic menu or information service from A further method of accessing a long-distance carrier is Which the caller is given a number to call to reach the desired the use of a collect call. The customer dials a toll-free service. For example, the number can be 1+900+XXX number belonging to the desired carrier and places a collect XXXX, although it could be a regular area code or local call using that carrier. number. Since many people cannot remember ten digits, the Similarly, several methods exist of accessing an informa caller can acknoWledge that prompting is desired by an tion provider, including dialing a “900” (or intra-area code appropriate input from the telephone instrument, by giving equivalent) service code number, dialing an “800” service a verbal response, or by merely continuing With the process, code number, and dialing a POTS number, including both so that the system can help the person dial by repeating a feW local and long-distance numbers. digits at a time as the person inputs the number. On a call-back, the person calls, gets a menu, selects the number SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION he or she Wants to reach, hangs up and gets called back, and The object of the present invention is to provide an there is a voice at the other end Which says, for example, improved method of accessing service providers for provid “this is the call-back you requested. You indicated that you ing telephonic services. Wish to reach 900-123-4567. If you Wish to reach that This and other objects of the present invention are number, please dial 1-900 noW. If you do not Wish to reach achieved in accordance With the present invention Wherein that number, please dial or say 5 noW.” After the input, or after a time out, the prompt continues and says, for example, a customer calls a toll-free number, hangs up, and is called 45 back by the selected service provider, Which then gives the “noW please dial 123.” This is repeated until the entire dialing sequence is completed. This method alloWs for error customer a dial tone or other indication that input is expected correction, because if the caller does dial the 1-900 but hits from the customer. Although a dial-tone is the most common form of an indication to the customer that input is expected, 126, the system can detect that and respond accordingly. there are other such indications, such as a single tone, and From the dialing prompt, the customer can obtain basic verbal prompts. The term “dialing prompt” Will henceforth telephonic services (e.g., long distance), enhanced services be used to refer to all forms of indications that input is (e.g., speed dialing), or audio services (e.g., entertainment or expected from the customer, including, conventional dial information provided by information providers). The tone, conventional single tones, conventional verbal method of the present invention is the only method Whereby a customer can obtain a general dial-tone (i.e., a dial-tone prompts, and the improved method of verbal prompts 55 described beloW. equivalent to the dial-tone provided by a local exchange Typically, the use of a dial-tone means that the customer carrier (LEC) from a long-distance carrier. is to input a destination telephone number, and the use of a The present invention has many advantages for customers single tone means that the customer is to input some other and service providers. It alloWs small long-distance carriers, type of information, such as a billing number. The use of for example, those that are not facilities-based and therefore verbal prompts has been used to verbally tell the customer not able to become pre-subscribed, or reachable by 101+ Which type of information to enter. Under the method of the (CIC code), or have traf?c delivered by “0” operators, to present invention, a neW use of verbal prompts is possible, compete nationally With large long-distance carriers for namely, using prompts to advise the caller from time to time long-distance traffic. during entry of a dialing sequence exactly Where the cus 65 The present invention also alloWs all service providers to tomer is in that sequence, or What entry a customer must compete nationally With large long-distance carriers for make to complete a call to a desired location or service, or “900” traffic. Carriers Without the facilities to carry their 6,111,940 3 4 oWn “900” traf?c must pay high rates to facilities-based selected by the customer during the incoming call to the carriers to carry “900” traf?c. provider or during the return call to the customer. For The method according to the present invention also allows example, the option to be called-back at a number other than long-distance carriers to loWer their costs With respect to the number from Which the call Was placed Would have to be their long-distance traf?c. In the conventional “1+” call, the selected during the incoming call, but the option to bill the long-distance carrier pays both the originating and termi call to a credit card could be selected during either the nating local exchange carriers (LECs) for handling the call. incoming call or the call-back. In the present invention, the long-distance carrier can elimi The present invention gives a customer more ?exibility nate the payment to the originating LEC. than may be offered by the customer’s LEC. For example, at The present invention alloWs fraud control for calls to 10 present, a customer cannot easily block and unblock “900” numbers to Which the customer is able to block calling, such calls With a LEC, but With the present invention, the cus as “900” numbers. The reason is that the calling back tomer could block “900” calls With a LEC and still make a identi?es the calling phone as one to Which direct calls can “900” number call if the customer so chose. Thus, the house be made, thereby eliminating many of the telephones from phone could be blocked for “900” calls by the children, but Which fraudulent long-distance and “900” calls are made, for 15 the parents could still make “900” calls. example, PBX’s and pay phones. In addition, although the The method of the present invention is distinguished from LECs make available databases of blocked numbers, the a method knoWn as “International Call-Back” Which is used databases have errors, and a supposedly blocked call can get extensively overseas. In the “International Call-Back” through. In such a case, the long-distance carrier and the method, an overseas customer signs up for the service and information provider may incur losses. is assigned a regular, non-800 telephone number in the The facilities-based carriers that carry the traf?c for the United States. When the customer calls from overseas to the small long-distance companies charge the small long assigned United States telephone number, the telephone is distance carriers more for carrying an incoming call (for not ansWered in order to avoid any charges for the call, but the equipment in the United States calls the customer back example, an “800” call) than for carrying an outgoing “1+” 25 call. Therefore, overall, it is less expensive for the small at a pre-arranged telephone number overseas and gives the long-distance carrier to pay for the initial, short “800” call customer a dial-tone. The foreign customer can then make a in, the long “1+” call to the customer and the long “1+” call call to another place via the United States equipment. The out to the recipient of the customer’s call, than to pay for a reason for this method is that it is cheaper to call, for long “800” call in and a long “1+” call out to the recipient example, England from France, by using this method based of the customer’s call, Which Would be the case if the upon United States rates, than by dialing England directly customer made the call by the calling card or credit card from France based upon French rates. The system is used method. overseas because of the economics. The method also alloWs a long-distance carrier to allocate With regard to International Call-Back, it is set up for each customer With a one-to-one correspondence betWeen a the entire universe of telephone numbers as it sees ?t. This 35 is because once a customer is connected to a carrier, a carrier particular overseas telephone number and a particular U.S. can carry a call hoWever it Wishes. Thus, a carrier can use telephone number, and therefore, the customer has to use some unused portion of the North American Numbering International Call-Back from that originating phone. The Plan (NANP) phone spectrum (e.g., the 666 service code) to present invention, by contrast, because the long-distance alloW its customers to advertise easily remembered num company recogniZes the calling telephone number through bers. Thus, even though 1-800-FLOWERS is taken, With the Automatic Number Identi?cation (ANI), alloWs the cus present invention, a carrier could offer 1-666-FLOWERS tomer to call from any billable phone that can be called back. and thousands of other memorable numbers. Thus, the system of the present invention can be used The method according to the present invention also alloWs Without any prior arrangement, from any billable telephone, Whereas International Call-Back cannot. a long-distance carrier to offer all services that a LEC can 45 offer. Examples of such services that could be offered Because International Call-Back has a unique U.S. num include: speed dialing (e.g., the customer entering a digit or ber assigned to each customer, the system’s access number tWo to reach a speci?c 10-digit number); other abbreviated cannot be advertised directly. The present invention, by dialing patterns; specialiZed dialing patterns (e.g., the cus contrast, alloWs the same call-in number to be used by all tomer entering a speci?c code presents the customer With a customers, thereby alloWing advertising of the access num specialiZed menu of options); scheduled calls (e.g., the ber. customer is called back by the long-distance company at a Similarly, different access numbers can be used to offer scheduled time); vertical service (also knoWn as CLASS different sets of services, thereby making it possible to tailor service and as * and # feature) codes (e.g., the customer advertising to the market for such services. SpecialiZed entering *66 for repeat dialing, or *67 for caller ID 55 access numbers also can be used to tailor the options for a blocking); voice-activated dialing (e. g., the customer speaks particular caller, such as to offer a small number of call-back the digits of the phone number, or the name of the party, numbers from Which the customer can select With a simple desired to be called); Directory Assistance (With or Without entry (rather than, for example, having to enter a full-length call completion); Operator assistance; prompted dialing telephone number), or to offer a limited number of service (e.g., a number returned from Directory Assistance, an options Which similarly can be easily selected. information service, or a menu selection is repeated to the International Call-Back alWays calls back the pre customer in units of only a feW digits as the customer enters arranged number. In the present invention, by contrast, the them for calling); selection of billing methods; entertain initial call can be ansWered, a menu of options can be ment services (e.g., “psychic readings”), information ser presented to the caller, such as being called back at a vices (e.g., sports scores, lottery results); 900 services; 65 user-speci?ed number rather than at the number calling in, multi-party calling; conference calling; and telemessaging. or calling back at a later time rather than immediately. In this Depending upon the nature of the service offering, it can be last case, the call-back could be made for purposes of 6,111,940 5 6 allowing the customer to make an outgoing call, or to dialing, selection of billing methods, entertainment services, receive entertainment or information services, or could be information services, 900 services, multi-party calling, con made for other purposes, such as a Wake-up call, or a ference calling and telemessaging. reminder, or to activate some device appropriately con These and other features and advantages of the present nected to the telephone instrument. Thus, under the method invention are achieved in accordance With the present inven of the present invention, there is no need (as there is under tion described in more detail hereinafter With regard to the the method of International Call-Back) for the customer to remember Which telephone number is registered for the attached draWings, Wherein, service, or Which number needs to be called from Which telephone. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In another embodiment of the present invention, the FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system for carrying out the method for providing telephone service comprises providing method according to the present invention; a toll-free access telephone number corresponding to the FIG. 2 is a flow chart of one method according to the service provider and not corresponding to any customer or present invention; customer telephone number and Which is thereby usable by 15 FIG. 3 is a flow chart of an alternative method according any valid customer. The method also includes receiving to the present invention; and signaling made to the toll-free number by a customer from FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a prompted dialing method a calling number, determining the calling number and ter according to the invention. minating the signaling. The calling number is called back and the customer is provided With a dialing prompt Whereby DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE the customer can select a desired service. Services include INVENTION conventional long-distance calling (e.g., 1+area code+7 dig its (and foreign equivalents)), conventional service code The methods according to present invention can be car calling (e.g., “800” and “900” numbers), and the calling of ried out using the equipment shoWn in FIG. 1. In FIG. 1, a sWitching station 20 services multiple telephone numbers Which reach information providers providing enter 25 tainment or information services (e.g., individual audio teXt instruments, including instruments 10 and 11 shoWn therein. services, multi-party audio teXt services, multi-party The sWitching station 20 is connected through the relay net connection). 25 to a sWitching station 40 Which services a destination The dialing prompt provided to the customer can be either number 50. The service provider station 30 is connected to a dial-tone or a verbal prompt, and can preferably have any the relay net 25. number of services automatically available, or, a menu of Referring to FIG. 2, in accordance With the present services can be provided to the customer for selection of the invention a service provider having sWitching station 30 desired one or ones to be used. The services could include provides a toll-free access telephone number in step 100. A speed dialing, other abbreviated dialing patterns, specialiZed customer at telephone instrument 10 dials the toll-free number and sWitching station 20 sends a calling signal dialing patterns, vertical service codes, voice-activated 35 dialing, Directory Assistance, Operator assistance, prompted through the relay net 25 to the service provider station 30, dialing, selection of billing methods, entertainment services, thus receiving signaling at the toll-free number in step 101. information services, 900 services, multi-party calling, con The service provider determines the calling number of ference calling and telemessaging. telephone instrument 10 in step 102 Without ansWering the In a further embodiment of the present invention, the call by use of ANI or other conventional techniques. In step method comprises providing a toll-free access telephone 103, the service provider terminates the incoming signaling number corresponding to the service provider and not cor Without ansWering the call. The service provider station 30 responding to any customer or customer telephone number then calls back the calling number of telephone instrument and Which is thereby usable by any valid customer. The 10 in step 104 and provides a dialing prompt to the called method also includes receiving a call made to the toll-free 45 back number in step 105. number by a customer from a calling number, providing Using this dialing prompt, the caller at telephone instru call-back options to the customer, receiving an indication of ment 10 can noW dial the destination number 50 through the at least one call-back option from the customer and hanging service provider station 30, if the service provider is a up the call. The customer is then called back in accordance long-distance carrier, or can select an information or enter With the at least one call-back option. tainment service from those offered by the service provider In a still further embodiment, the customer is provided itself if the service provider is an information provider, With a dialing prompt, Whereby the customer can select a rather than a long-distance carrier. desired service. Services include conventional long-distance In an alternative embodiment of the present invention calling (e.g., 1+area code+7 digits (and foreign shoWn by the flow chart of FIG. 3, a toll-free access equivalents)), conventional service code calling (e.g., “800” 55 telephone number is provided in step 200 and the service and “900” numbers), and the calling of numbers Which reach provider station receives a call to the toll-free number in step information providers providing entertainment or informa 201. In this embodiment, the service provider determines the tion services (e. g., individual audio teXt services, multi-party calling number of telephone instrument 10 by ANI or other audio teXt services, multi-party connection). The dialing conventional techniques and ansWers the call in step 202. In prompt provided to the customer can be either a dial-tone or step 203, the caller is given a number of call-back options. a verbal prompt, and can preferably have any number of For example, the caller is given the option of having the services automatically available, or, a menu of services can call-back to another telephone instrument, for example, be provided to the customer for selection of the desired one telephone instrument 11 Which may be in another portion of or ones to be used. The services could include speed dialing, the home or may be a cell phone or an office phone. other abbreviated dialing patterns, specialiZed dialing 65 Alternatively, the call-back options can be to call-back either patterns, vertical service codes, voice-activated dialing, telephone instrument 10 or telephone instrument 11 at a Directory Assistance, Operator Assistance, prompted designated time. The customer responds to the menu options 6,111,940 7 8 by pressing keys on the telephone instrument in step 204, or The method of FIG. 4 also can be carried out in conjunc alternatively, speaking them if voice recognition capability tion With the method of FIG. 2 or 3, such that, for example, is available. For example, the customer can indicate Whether the call-back step 310 is made to a number other than the it is the calling number that should be called back or some calling number. other number. The call-back options may include any num It is understood that the embodiments described herein ber of options, such as those discussed above, or others such above are merely illustrative and are not intended to limit the as use of a security code to authoriZe Which area and service scope of the invention. It is realiZed that various changes codes, or information services, may be dialed from the alterations, rearrangements and modi?cations can be made dialing prompt or selecting a method for charging the call by those skilled in the art Without substantially departing (e.g., to the destination number or to a credit card). 10 from the spirit and scope of the present invention. After receiving the indication of one or more call-back What is claimed is: options, the toll-free call is hung up in step 205 and the 1. Amethod for providing telephonic services, comprising call-back is made in accordance With the selected call-back the steps of: options in step 206. A dialing prompt is provided to the providing a toll-free access telephone number corre called-back number in step 207. sponding to the provider and not corresponding to any FIG. 4 shoWs a method of providing a prompted dialing 15 customer or customer telephone number and thereby telephonic service. usable by any valid customer; In step 300, the service provider provides an access receiving signaling made to the toll-free number by a telephone number at the service provider station and customer from a calling number; receives signaling at the access telephone number in step determining the calling number; 301 from a telephone instrument 10 or 11. In step 302, the terminating the signaling; service provider determines the calling number by the calling back the calling number; and methods set forth earlier, and in step 303, the service providing the customer With a dialing prompt, Whereby provider ansWers the call. the customer can select a desired telephonic service. 2. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the dialing In step 304, a desired dialing sequence to be input is 25 determined, for example, a destination number 50. This prompt is a dial-tone. number could be determined, for example, by an inquiry to 3. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the dialing directory assistance, or by a selection from a menu. In step prompt is a verbal prompt. 305, the customer is prompted to dial at least one, but not all 4. The method according to claim 3, Wherein the verbal of the digits of the dialing sequence. For example, the prompt comprises a menu of telephonic services. customer can be prompted to dial three digits at a time. In 5. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the step of step 306, the prompting is repeated until the dialing providing a dialing prompt comprises providing the cus tomer With a dialing prompt With speed dialing service. sequence is completed. The customer can be prompted to 6. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the step of input the digits of the dialing sequence via a touch-tone providing a dialing prompt comprises providing the cus input, a dialing input or a verbal input. Moreover, the desired 35 tomer With a dialing prompt With multi-party calling service. dialing sequence can be a telephone number, a geographic 7. The method according to claim 6, Wherein the multi area code telephone number, or a service code number such party calling service comprises conference calling service. as a “900” number, or a dialing code selected from a menu. 8. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the step of The method can also include error correction for the providing a dialing prompt comprises providing the cus prompted dialing. Because the selected input is already tomer With a dialing prompt With abbreviated dialing pat knoWn to the service provider, if the customer’s actual input terns. fails to match the expected input, the customer can be 9. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the step of prompted With respect to this discrepancy to determine providing a dialing prompt comprises providing the cus Whether the customer made an input error or decided to enter tomer With a dialing prompt With specialiZed dialing pat an input other than that previously determined. 45 terns. The method of FIG. 4 can also be carried out using a 10. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the step of call-back telephonic service, and the call-back can be made providing a dialing prompt comprises providing the cus either before or after the determination of the dialing tomer With a dialing prompt With vertical service code sequence. service. In the case Where the call-back is made before the 11. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the step of determination of the dialing sequence, as shoWn in FIG. 4, providing a dialing prompt comprises providing the cus after the signaling is received at the access telephone num tomer With a dialing prompt With voice activated dialing ber in step 301, and the calling number determined in step service. 302, the signaling is terminated Without ansWering the call 12. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the step of in step 307 and the service provider calls back the calling 55 providing a dialing prompt comprises providing the cus number is step 308. Thereafter, the desired dialing sequence tomer With a dialing prompt With directory assistance ser is determined in step 304, and steps 305 an d 306 folloW as vice. above. 13. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the step of In the case Where the call-back is made after the deter providing a dialing prompt comprises providing the cus mination of the dialing sequence, as shoWn in FIG. 4, after tomer With a dialing prompt With operator assistance ser the signaling is received at the access telephone number in vice. step 301, the calling number determined in step 302, the call 14. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the step of ansWered in step 303, and the desired dialing sequence providing a dialing prompt comprises providing the cus determined in step 304, the call is terminated in step 309, tomer With a dialing prompt With prompted dialing service. folloWed by the calling back of the calling number in step 65 15. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the step of 310. Thereafter, the prompting of the digits begins in step providing a dialing prompt comprises providing the cus 305. tomer With a dialing prompt With information service. 6,111,940 9 10 16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of 34. The method according to claim 20, Wherein the step providing a dialing prompt comprises providing the cus of providing a dialing prompt comprises providing the tomer With a dialing prompt With 900 service. customer With a dialing prompt With voice activated dialing 17. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the step of service. providing a dialing prompt comprises providing the cus 35. The method according to claim 20, Wherein the step tomer With a dialing prompt With telemessaging service. of providing a dialing prompt comprises providing the 18. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the pro customer With a dialing prompt With directory assistance vider of telephonic services is a long-distance carrier. service. 19. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the pro 36. The method according to claim 20, Wherein the step vider of telephonic services is an information provider. 10 of providing a dialing prompt comprises providing the 20. A method of providing telephonic services, compris ing the steps of: customer With a dialing prompt With operator assistance service. providing a toll-free access telephone number corre sponding to the provider and not corresponding to any 37. The method according to claim 20, Wherein the step customer or customer telephone number and thereby of providing a dialing prompt comprises providing the usable by any valid customer; 15 customer With a dialing prompt With prompted dialing service. receiving a call made to the toll-free number by a cus 38. The method according to claim 20, Wherein the step tomer from a calling number; of providing a dialing prompt comprises providing the providing call-back options to the customer; customer With a dialing prompt With information service. receiving an indication of at least one call-back option 39. The method according to claim 20, Wherein the step from the customer; of providing a dialing prompt comprises providing the terminating the call; customer With a dialing prompt With 900 service. calling back the customer in accordance With the at least 40. The method according to claim 20, Wherein the step one call-back option; and of providing a dialing prompt comprises providing the providing the customer With a dialing prompt after the 25 customer With a dialing prompt With telemessaging service. step of calling back, Whereby the customer can select a 41. The method according to claim 20, Wherein the desired telephonic service. provider of telephonic services is a long-distance carrier. 21. The method according to claim 20, Wherein the dialing 42. The method according to claim 20, Wherein the prompt is a dial-tone. provider of telephonic services is an information provider. 22. The method according to claim 20, Wherein the dialing 43. A method for providing telephonic services, compris prompt is a verbal prompt. ing the steps of: 23. The method according to claim 22, Wherein the verbal providing an access telephone number corresponding to a prompt comprises a menu of telephonic services. provider of telephonic services; 24. The method according to claim 20, Wherein the receiving signaling made to the access telephone number call-back options include calling back a telephone number 35 by a customer; other than the one from Which the toll-free access number determining a desired dialing sequence to be inputted by Was called. 25. The method according to claim 20, Wherein the the customer; call-back options include calling back at a designated time. providing a prompt of at least one and less than all digits 26. The method according to claim 20, Wherein the of the desired dialing sequence to the customer; call-back options include use of a security code to authoriZe repeating With at least one additional prompt until the Which services may be dialed from the dialing prompt. dialing sequence is completed by the customer; and 27. The method according to claim 20, Wherein the determining a calling telephone of the customer and call-back options include selecting a method of charging for calling back the calling number before determining the a call made to a destination number. 45 desired dialing sequence. 28. The method according to claim 20, Wherein the step 44. The method according to claim 43, Wherein the of providing a dialing prompt comprises providing the desired dialing sequence is a telephone number. customer With a dialing prompt With speed dialing service. 45. The method according to claim 44, Wherein the 29. The method according to claim 20, Wherein the step desired dialing sequence is a geographic area code telephone of providing a dialing prompt comprises providing the number. customer With a dialing prompt With multi-party calling 46. The method according to claim 44, Wherein the service. desired dialing sequence is a service code telephone number. 30. The method according to claim 29, Wherein the 47. The method according to claim 46, Wherein the multi-party calling service comprises conference calling desired dialing sequence is a 900 service code telephone service. 55 number. 31. The method according to claim 20, Wherein the step 48. The method according to claim 43, Wherein the step of providing a dialing prompt comprises providing the of providing a prompt comprises prompting a touch tone customer With a dialing prompt With abbreviated dialing input. patterns. 49. The method according to claim 43, Wherein the step 32. The method according to claim 20, Wherein the step of providing a prompt comprises prompting a dialing input. of providing a dialing prompt comprises providing the 50. The method according to claim 43, Wherein the step customer With a dialing prompt With specialiZed dialing of providing a prompt comprises prompting a verbal input. patterns. 51. The method according to claim 43, Wherein the 33. The method according to claim 20, Wherein the step desired dialing sequence is a 900 service code telephone of providing a dialing prompt comprises providing the 65 number. customer With a dialing prompt With vertical service code 52. The method according to claim 43, Wherein the service. provider of telephonic services is a long-distance carrier. 6,111,940 11 12 53. The method according to claim 43, wherein the 57. The method according to claim 54, Wherein the provider of telephonic services is an information provider. desired dialing sequence is a telephone number. 54. The method according to claim 43, further comprising 58. The method according to claim 57, Wherein the providing error correcting prompting for incorrect inputs desired dialing sequence is a geographical area code tele from the customer. phone number. 55. A method for providing telephonic services, compris 59. The method according to claim 57, Wherein the ing the steps of: desired dialing sequence is a service code telephone number. 60. The method according to claim 59, Wherein the providing an access telephone number corresponding to a desired dialing sequence is a 900 service code telephone provider of telephonic services; number. receiving signaling made to the access telephone number 10 61. The method according to claim 55, Wherein the step by a customer; of providing a prompt comprises prompting a touch tone determining a desired dialing sequence to be inputted by input. the customer; 62. The method according to claim 55, Wherein the step of providing a prompt comprises prompting a dialing input. providing a prompt of at least one and less than all digits 15 63. The method according to claim 55, Wherein the step of the desired dialing sequence to the customer; of providing a prompt comprises prompting a verbal input. repeating With at least one additional prompt until the 64. The method according to claim 55, Wherein the dialing sequence is completed by the customer; and provider of telephonic services is a long-distance carrier. determining a calling telephone of the customer and 65. The method according to claim 55, Wherein the calling back the calling number after determining the provider of telephonic services is an information provider. desired dialing sequence and before providing the 66. The method according to claim 55, further comprising prompt. providing error correcting prompting for incorrect inputs 56. The method according to claim 55, Wherein the from the customer. desired dialing sequence is a 900 service code telephone number. UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION
PATENT NO. : 6,111,940 Page 1 of 1 DATED : August 29, 2000 INVENTOR(S) : Kugell
It is certified that error appears in the above-identi?ed patent and that said Letters Patent is hereby corrected as shown below:
Column 8 Line 15, remove “the provider” and add -- a provider of telephonic services
Column 9 Line 14, remove “the provider” and add -- a provider of telephonic services
Column 10 Line 42, insert -- number -- after “telephone”.
Column 11 Line 18, insert -- number -- after “telephone”.
Signed and Sealed this
Tenth Day of June, 2003
JAMES E. ROGAN Director ofthe United States Patent and Trademark O?‘ice